Sir William Borlase Grammar School vs Reading School

[Hattiehoo]

I am looking at both of these schools for my DS who is very academic but not geeky by any means. He does well but generally does the bare minimum. SWBGS has the advantage that it is very close to us and the journey to Reading can be a bit of a nightmare. SWBGS is also Co-ed unlike Reading and that would mean that hopefully my daughters could follow him there later. However I hear various rumours about the lack of discipline at SWBGS and that it isn't "cool" to be hard working (my son wouldn't need much persuading that this is the case). On the other hand, it sounds a lot of fun and Reading perhaps is too much all work and no play. Any information from anyone with knowledge of these schools would be very much appreciated! Thank you.

I have a friend who went to WB and has just gone to one of the top universities in the country. She also acts and is a confident, happy girl. As for skirts...have you seen The Abbey recently? Sadly, it is a fashion trend and unless you look at St Joseph's, where the poor girls' skirts trail on the floor.

I am afraid that I suspect the posting above (Marlowgirl) is written by an adult - probably a senior member of staff rather dismayed by all this negativity. But it doesn't need to be defended, in my opinion...I know girls who have been there recently and I have been impressed by how they come out...

I attend Borlase and I will shortly be going into year 11. I just thought I would say something from a pupils point of view. I love the school and it has given me so much, not just academicly but in confidence. The school is very pupil friendly and very safe. It almost trys to hard with all its extra activities but i'd rather that then them not do anything for us. Borlase adopt a independant learning scheme which means that basically they will teach us and we have to learn. ie doing homework and keeping up to date. They push us hard because they know our full potential. The length of our skirts isn't really that important to our education but may I add every teacher makes us sort out our uniform before we enter class so they are not lenient about uniform.

I am a Borlase Student in my final year, and would like to let you know what Borlase is really like.
Borlase is a lively community, where something is always on. Students never fail to work as hard as possible, and they can often be heard discussing lessons in corridors and the cafes at break and lunch. Discipline has never been an issue. Bullying is hardly ever heard of.
My sister attends Challoners girls school. The difference? She is pushed to be academic all the time. They don't care about their students well-being, mental health or outside activities. They care about passing exams.
Yes, Borlase do not come top of the league tables year on year. But every single student manages to participate in extra-curicular activities (there really is something for everyone)and at the end of their school careers they have become well-rounded indiviluals.
I know that Borlase's badge as a 'Performing Arts Specialist School' doesnt match up to schools with Science statuses and so on, in some people's eyes. But I can honestly say it's the best place I have ever been. I hope you take in to account MarlowGirl and MarlowLife's opinions and go along to open days, because our experiences account for a lot.

We thank Punkatheart for complimenting our apparently very mature writing style, but as we are definitely 6th form students in our last year of school, this is simply a result of our excellent teaching, as described in our previous post.
As Borlasian said - it is worth taking our views into account.

I came across this recently on a search for alumni and was disappointed in the perception of SWBGS to some people.
I attended Borlase and am currently in my final year of University studying Product design and engineering.
My education at Borlase was excellent and I am on my way to getting a first class degree.
I studied maths, physics and deisgn technology and have been mentoring children in other schools in STEM subjects.Through this I have witnessed many other schools and I can honestly say Borlase is one of the best.

Wow, MarlowGirl, MarlowLife and Borlasian are blatantly the senior staff. Never read such a fake review in my life...even worse than when my company's HR department tried to write their Glassdoor reviews. Good one, LOL!

I went to Borlase and would not recommend in a million years. I joined in Year 10 and had pretty much the worst 4 years of my life due to the unbelievably unfriendly and snooty atmosphere here (improved slightly in 6th form). There was definitely a lot of drug use, students turning up hungover, and after house parties in YEAR 10 I would hear what had happened the night before - 69ers, "spitroasts", girls losing virginity and entire school knowing about it. Horrendously short skirts, girls are incredibly bitchy, boys are disrespectful. The percentage of the year who were nice people was about 20%. Contrasting this to university (Bath) where everyone was nice and where I had the best 4 years of my life.

Actually, the only saving grace of this school is the academic side, it's very good. No problems with discipline (I went to Slough Grammar before this and 60% of each lesson was spent trying to get people to be quiet). I chose Borlase specifically for the academics - though really I'd have rather gone to a comp where I would have been a bit happier. Never felt like I had to do any music/drama/dance/sport (I didn't). In my Year (2011), 15 got into Oxbridge. You're allowed to do as many A-levels as you want (I did 5). I never got the impression it wasn't cool to study, but basically if you don't wear Jack Wills, smoke and perform sex acts at house parties, you won't be cool full stop.

Would not recommend. It's full of entitled awful posh kids who got tutored to pass the 11+, and the atmosphere stinks because of it.

Reading Boys is a different league. To 10 school by GCSE and a level results. If it's accessible go for it.

Hi, I am planning to apply for SWBGS grammar school for my son. I have seen som very old reviews about the school about the discipline. Is it still the same? Are there any SWBGS mum's here?

I have 2 children there - it is an excellent school. The negative comments on this thread do not reflect the school I know.

This is a zombie thread started by people clearly with issues and an axe to grind - would probably be better to start a new thread rather then resurrect this